One of my favorite parts about writing Gluten-Free Globetrotter is connecting with people across the globe. In December, Barbara left a comment on this site. She is the author of Gluten-Free Amsterdam, a website (in English) about restaurants and tips for eating gluten-free in Amsterdam. Barbara graciously agreed to sharing her top five gluten-free friendly restaurants in Amsterdam.
Gluten-Free Amsterdam
My name is Barbara, and I am a celiac living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Amsterdam is not the easiest city to live in. Going out for dinner can be hard sometimes. However, the gluten-free options are increasing and I would love to share my top 5 restaurants with you!
1. Heasje Claes (www.haesjeclaes.nl)
The absolute winner is restaurant Heasje Claesje. This restaurant has the best gluten-free service in town. They have a gluten-free menu, gluten-free bread and gluten-free beer. The menu offers typical Dutch dishes with many choices of meat and fish. They also have a special gluten-free kids menu! It’s located in the city centre. The menu is translated in several languages. So if you are visiting Amsterdam as a tourist, this is absolutely the place to be.
2. Restaurant Lieve (www.restaurantlieve.nl) You will find this great place for celiacs at one of the main canals of Amsterdam. The service in Restaurant Lieve is very nice and they have a gluten-free menu with delicious food. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great.
3. Spaghetteria (http://spaghetteria-pastabar.nl)
This little pasta-bar is one of the hotspots of Amsterdam. This means it’s always really crowded, and there is no possibility to make a reservation. However, it’s worth waiting for. They offer all the pasta’s in a gluten-free variety as well. Just ask for it. It’s located in the popular living area called ‘de Pijp’.
4. The Seafood Bar (www.theseafoodbar.nl)
If you are into fish, this is your restaurant. They offer al kind of fish and have a great gluten-free service. They know how to deal with celiacs, are always really friendly and have gluten-free bread as well. You’ll find this place next to the Vondelpark.
5. Bazar (http://bazaramsterdam.nl)
This restaurant has an Arabic menu. As soon as you walk in this (huge) restaurant you are not longer in Amsterdam, but in the Middle-East. You can ask for their allergy menu. On this menu you will exactly find which dishes are ok for which diets. It’s really delicious.
This was my top 5 gluten-free restaurants in Amsterdam. I am still exploring the gluten-free scene of the city, so for any updates please visit my blog: www.glutenfreeamsterdam.com.
When I was doing my research for my Wales and Scotland trip in the fall, I connected with Sam via Twitter. Sam is the owner of Gluten-Free Nottingham, a business that supplies high-quality, handmade, gluten-free food to people in the UK. Here is today’s guest post from Sam about all things gluten-free in Nottingham, England.
Hello, I’m Sam and I live in Nottingham, England. I run my own business making fresh handmade food for Coeliacs. To make life simple I named my business Gluten Free Food Nottingham – does what it says on the tin. I set up my business in August 2012 after discovering I was Coeliac in Summer 2011. I was really disappointed with the food that I could find in the supermarkets so I decided that I would do something about it. Through my business I sell baked goods such as cakes and quiches to shops, delis and the public, I also provide catering and run pop up restaurants at different venues around the city. I am very fortunate to be able to do this and it is just the best thing making someone smile when they realise that they can eat anything on the stalls that I run or anything on the menu at the pop up restaurant nights. The service is very unique to the area and I pride myself on being able to provide great tasting food that not only the Coeliac enjoys but everyone else at the party too.
Even though I cook a lot myself it is always nice to have a break from this. The number of venues in Nottingham that cater gluten free are growing all the time. There’s plenty of choice in and around the city. All the following are places that I have been to and eaten at safely and would happily recommend:
The Manor Nottingham Road Beeston, Nottingham NG9 6DN http://www.themanortoton.co.uk/home.htm The Manor offers a brilliant gluten free pub grub menu and at great value. There’s a really good range across all three courses, expect hunters chicken, fish goujons, burgers and tasty desserts. The owner and staff are super friendly and provide a great service.
La Rock 4 Bridge St, Sandiacre, Nottingham NG10 5QT http://www.larockrestaurant.co.uk/index.php For fine dining head to La Rock in Sandiacre. Pretty much everything on the menu will be gluten free. A recent meal included wood pigeon for starters, venison for main and my very own gluten and dairy free dessert that they rustled up just for me.
The Griffins Head Moor Rd, Papplewick, Nottingham NG15 8EN http://www.griffinshead.co.uk/ Heading north away from the city in a little village is the Griffins Head, a traditional local pub which has extended in to restaurant with a brilliant menu for Coeliacs. A wide menu is on offer.
Alley Cafe Cannon Ct, Longrow West, Nottingham NG1 6JE http://www.alleycafe.co.uk/ The Alley Cafe is the cities long standing vegan bar. They have a range of gluten free snacks such as GF vegan burgers and cakes. Good for a chilled out drink with friends too.
Hartley’s Coffee & Sandwich Bar 21 Carlton Street, Hockley, Nottingham. NG1 1NL http://www.hartleyscoffeebar.co.uk/menu–blog.html Hartley’s is a family run business in the heart of the city, open daily they offer gluten, egg and dairy free options on their menus. Dawn the owner is gluten, egg and dairy free, her and husband Kevin train all the staff in preparing the food safely. Great for sandwiches, a slice of cake or an all day breakfast with GF sausages.
Nando’s 12 Angel Row, Nottingham NG1 6HL http://www.nandos.co.uk/restaurantmenu/mains Chain restaurant Nando’s has one of the best system I have discovered so far for serving customers with allergies and intolerances. Go in and tell them you are Coeliac and they will provide you with a menu that has every food that they sell and the ingredients and allergens for each of them. Go to Nando’s if you want chicken and fries or a vegetarian option.
D’s Pop Up Kitchen https://www.facebook.com/dspopupkitchen?fref=ts Dena makes beautiful vegan food that is gluten and wheat free too. Search her on Facebook to find where her next event will be.
Green Revolution Vegan Takeaway service – call 44(0)7974 507 097 https://www.facebook.com/vegan.greenrevolution?fref=ts The fantastic Hanna Garcez provides a vegan and raw food takeaway service direct to your door. With advance warning she can cater for multiple intolerances. Not least my demands for Gluten Free, Oat Free and Maize Free food.
Rectory Road Fish Bar Rectory Road, West Bridgford. NG2 https://www.facebook.com/RectoryFishBar?fref=ts Every Monday evening until 8.30pm Rectory Road Chippy offers Gluten Free fish and chips. Also try out the mushy peas, the homemade fishcakes and the battered sausages too.
Oriental Pearl 42-44 Bridgford Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6AP http://www.the-pearl.co.uk/ This is a stylish Chinese Restaurant that uses locally sourced produce and has a separate gluten free menu.
Carluccio’s 12 Low Pavement, Nottingham NG1 7DL http://www.carluccios.com/ Chain restaturant serving beautiful Italian food. A good selection for GF
Find my gluten free cakes in the following places:
Deli No. 8 – 8 Gordon Road, West Bridgford,Nottingham. NG2 5LN
One of my favorite things about New York City is the wide variety of food available from around the globe. You don’t have to go far to find safe gluten-free Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Colombian, Venezuelan, Asian, or Indian food. Sometimes these restaurants are just steps from one another and your hardest decision to make that night is what exactly you are in the mood to eat for dinner. You can literally travel the globe through food with nothing more than a Metrocard and a subway map.
I would like to note that New York City has a very high turnover of restaurants. Be sure to call ahead to make sure your destination restaurant is still open. In addition, menus sometimes change. Talk to your server and the manager about eating gluten-free safely at your restaurant.
Here are some of my personal gluten-free global suggestions for dining in New York City.
Italy
Risotteria: extensive gluten-free menu including risotto, panini, pizza, and the best GF breadsticks in the world! (NOW CLOSED)
Bistango: gluten-free pastas, stuffed pastas, pizza, bread, desserts, and beer
Keste: brick-oven pizza senza gluten (gluten-free)
Pala Pizza: extensive gluten-free menu including antipasto, pasta, pizza, and vegan options
Pappardella: typical Italian cuisine featuring gluten-free Schar products
Del Posto: very gourmet restaurant that is perfect for a special occasion
Davio’s Steakhouse: a northern Italian steakhouse that serves fish, meat, and gluten-free pastas
Mexico
Rosa Mexicano: gluten-free menu and table-side guacamole preparation (Union Square location is most gluten-free friendly)
Rocking Horse Cafe: a lively restaurant with all gluten-free clearly marked on menu
Greece
Ovelia: certified gluten-free menu with a traditional Greek food with homemade sausage that is amazing.
Spain
Casa Pomona: traditional food from Spain including tapas and paella (NOW CLOSED)
Latin America
Bogota Latin Bistro: traditional Colombian fare including arepas, cornmeal empanadas, patacones (plaintains), and even 2 dedicated gluten-free fryers
Caracas Arepa Bar: homemade Venezuelan food including 100% cornmeal areaps. Three locations!
Ku Ku Canteen: Asian fusion restaurant featuring gluten-free bulgogi, a traditional Korean dish, and bibimbap, “a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, chili paste, and beef or other meat, sometimes with the addition of a raw or fried egg”
Lilli and Loo: featuring traditional Chinese food and sushi with a full gluten-free menu
Rhong Tiam: authentic Thai food with all gluten-free menu items clearly marked at the restaurant (website doesn’t show GF)
France
Les Halles: Anthony Bourdain’s typical Parisian brasserie with gluten-free items clearly marked on menu
My friend Michael, of Gluten-Free Philly, recently launched a new mobile app for iPhones and iPads. Just in time for your holiday travel, you will now have a wonderful resource for gluten-free food right at your fingertips. This app goes beyond Philadelphia with recommendations also in New Jersey and Delaware.
Gluten-Free Philly is an award-winning website with tons of amazing restaurant reviews, product reviews, and event announcements for the mid-Atlantic region. I am always impressed with the amount of information Michael publishes each week on his website. This new Gluten-Free Philly app is a great way to navigate this area and keep up to date with Michael’s blog.
According to iTunes, “The best of the award-winning Gluten Free Philly blog is now in the palm of your hand. Find more than 1,200 curated gluten-free-friendly restaurant, bakery, market and attractions listings covering southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and all of Delaware, with new listings frequently added. Search by name, location or cuisine, view gluten-free-friendly menus and options, get directions, and call listed businesses from your phone.”
You can buy the Gluten-Free Philly app now on iTunes for your iPhone and iPad for $2.99 or you can enter to win below. This is my very first Gluten-Free Globetrotter giveaway and I couldn’t think of a better first giveaway prize than the Gluten-Free Philly app. Enter to win through the Rafflecopter widget below.
When I travel to Portland, I eat a lot. Portland is such a gluten-free friendly city that the problem I have when I am there is deciding where to eat. I have so many options and love that I can eat safely throughout this beautiful Northwest city. I have my favorite gluten-free friendly restaurants but always try to eat at one new place each business trip. Last month, I had my best meal in Portland since I started going there for work in 2012. This meal was at Imperial at 410 SW Broadway inside the historic Hotel Lucia.
Photo from the Imperial website
At the beginning of the summer, I attended an event in New York City launching Bob’s Red Mill Grains of Discovery. This event was slightly surreal. It was bringing my corporate Portland world to my hometown. All of the chefs at this event were from Portland and it was at this event I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Vitaly Paley from Imperial. Chef Paley is a native New Yorker that relocated to Portland in the 1990s. In 2005, he was awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest. Now, Chef Paley owns three restaurants in Portland including Imperial, Paley’s Place Bistro & Bar, and the Portland Penny Diner. At the NYC event, Chef Paley was friendly, chatty, and extremely generous. (He handed me a gift card for Imperial in Portland before I left the NYC event). I knew where I was going to eat on my next business trip!
Check out the “GF” on the menu.
From my first communications via email with the PR company for Imperial, followed by several emails from Chef Paley himself I knew I was in good hands. The Chef told me his wife as well as a few of the servers on staff at Imperial were gluten-free. He also mentioned that many dishes on the menu were gluten-free and even marked on the menu itself with a “GF”. He did add a disclaimer that Imperial is not a gluten-free or shellfish-free kitchen. Chef Paley said “Even though we do attend very diligently and wash all our wares and counters between every use we can not promise there will be absolutely no cross contamination.” Not only did he reassure me but he also gave me his personal cell phone number.
PAUSE. A top chef gave me his number. This would never happen in New York City. But I digress…
I appreciated Chef Paley’s honesty, his understanding about gluten-free dietary restrictions as well as my shellfish allergy, and I made a reservation for a seat at the chef’s counter at Imperial for a Wednesday night in August.
Imperial in Hotel Lucia
When I arrived at Imperial, I immediately was treated like gluten-free royalty. (Get it?) Garrett, the general manager, met me at the front of the restaurant and quickly escorted me to the chef’s counter right in front of the wood-burning grill and kitchen. My waitress Autumn came over and walked me through the menu, answering all of my questions. Chef Vitaly then came out and we chatted for a few minutes. He remembered me from NYC and spoke to me about the menu and the safe, gluten-free options. The Chef also remembered from my emails that I was allergic to shellfish and made sure to point out the safe dishes on the menu
My Imperial menu for the evening:
Drink: Sleight of Hand: pisco, lillet rose, pamplemousse liquer, flamed negroni mist Appetizer: Kale and raw vegetable salad with sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing Bonus dish: Ocean caught salmon belly Main dish: Tails and Trotters Barrel Planked Pork Secreto with smoked hazlenut romesco sauce and grilled leeks Dessert: Coffee Toffee Icebox Cake
This meal was decadent, delicious, and most importantly, gluten-free. Also, Chef Paley tries to use all local ingredients, which he explained when I asked about “Tails and Trotters“, the Pacific Northwest hazelnut, finished pork.
Tails and Trotters pork secreto with smoked hazlenut romesco sauce
There were three major highlights of this meal: the salmon, the sunflower seed brittle, and the coffee toffee icebox cake. First and foremost, I ate fish. I need to focus on this because I never eat fish. But when a James Beard Awarded Best Chef puts an off-menu dish in front of you, YOU EAT IT! When the salmon is caught by a Native American fisherman by hook and line in the Pacific Ocean on the morning you are eating it, YOU DEFINITELY EAT IT. This salmon belly was lightly cooked right in front of me over the wood fire and seasoned with local olive oil, sea salt, and vinegar. I had to turn of my fishy aversions off and eat this dish, and I am thrilled that I did. This salmon tasted like the sea. It was smoky and salty and melt-in-your mouth delectable. I think I was spoiled for life. I will never get fish that is this good, this fresh, and this well-prepared here in New York City.
Ocean-caught salmon
The second memorable bite was the sunflower seed brittle. Instead of croutons on the kale and raw vegetable salad, there was crushed sunflower seed brittle. This is exactly what it sounds like. Like a nut brittle, this sunflower seed brittle added a nice crunch and an interesting and safe alternative to gluten-laden croutons on my salad. If Chef Paley served me a plate of this brittle, I would eat it as dessert!
Kale salad with sunflower seed brittle
Finally, just when I thought I could not eat another bite, I had dessert. The Coffee Toffee Icebox Cake dessert was a gluten-free cake with toffee bits, local hazelnuts and toasted meringue. I was so full from the dinner that I was unable to finish the cake but it was so good at every bite. I wanted to bring it back to my hotel to finish but since it was frozen, I knew it would melt by the time I got back.
DESSERT!!
Throughout the meal, I chatted with Autumn, Garrett, and Chef Vitaly. The Chef reminded me that his wife is gluten-free so he is now more aware of gluten-free dietary needs than he was ever before. All three of his restaurants highlight gluten-free options on the menu and his staff is aware of cross-contamination concerns in the kitchen. The entire staff at Imperial seemed very well-versed in gluten-free dining and chatted with me about this throughout my meal. One of the hardest parts about business travel is dining alone, but the staff kept me engaged the entire meal.
Me with Chef Vitaly Paley
Chatting with the chef at his counter, watching the behind-the-scenes of the kitchen, and enjoying such a decadent meal made the whole experience beyond memorable. It is safe to say, that out of more than 6 weeks in Portland over the past 18 months, Imperial and Chef Vitaly Paley made for my favorite Portland meal ever.
My view from the chef’s counter
Thank you to Chef Vitaly Paley for making a safe, gluten-free, and delicious meal for me and for the entire staff for being so welcoming and friendly throughout my time at Imperial.
Imperial
410 SW Broadway
Portland OR 97205
PHONE: 503.228.7222
While I did receive a complimentary gift card from Chef Vitaly Paley, I paid for the balance of my meal on my own. Opinions expressed here are my own.
